Birds of Prey 99, Captain America 23, Civil War: Front Line 7, Fantastic Four 540, Flash 5
Birds of Prey 99
We (that's not the royal we, that's me plus the kids) still like the new Batgirl, or whoever she ends up being. I'm kind of sorry that I didn't start reading this title earlier, because Black Canary is leaving now and I don't know that I'll like her replacement (whoever that may be) as well. But a good issue with a few light moments, a few heavy moments, a few laughs. Still enjoying it, although it's not on the "keep at all costs" list at this point..
Captain America 23
Despite the total lack of Captain America in in this issue, this is one of my favorite books of the month. The focus was almost entirely on the Winter Soldier, who has been quickly becoming a favorite even apart from his connection with Cap and the Golden Age. And I'm always happy to see Fury, even a holographic Fury. I found the Civil War discussion a little tedious; although it did serve to illustrate how alienated Bucky is from any sort of community, I'm not sure it gave the outsider perspective that was intended. But all in all, a good read.
Art-wise, I wasn't as pleased with Perkins' pencils as I have been in the past--they seemed a little rushed--but I'm certainly not complaining about them.
Civil War: Front Line 7
The big scenes this issue were Speedball's, of course (hard to avoid attention when you've been shot. I'm not all that familiar with him, know almost nothing about the New Warriors, but as far as his portrayal here goes, it's been decent--his mixed motives, the changes he's gone through since the event at the school--all have been as subtle as one can usually expect in a comic.
For me, though, the strnegth of the issue was the scene with Sally Floyd and Congressman Sykes, when although he disagrees with her, he gets her out of jail because she shouldn't be there. It's one of very few sympathetic moments for the pro-registration side, particularly notable since Sykes is such an unsympathetic character, and it was fairly well done.
Fantastic Four 540
I somehow missed out on the issue of Civil War in which Sue left Reed, although I've read a bit about it online. So of course I'm going to start this discussion with my thoughts on something I haven't even read.
In that version, so I've heard, before she leaves, Sue makes Reed dinner and has sex with him. I know a lot of folks have criticized this portrayal, and I can see the point there, absolutely. My own thought, though, as a married woman, is that sex between long-time partners isn't just sex, it's also a moment of emotional closeness when any distance that may have built up can be removed. I can see how Sue may have hoped that, through this physical union, she and Reed might be able to recapture some of their bond. She may have seen it as a last chance to connect with Reed in a meaningful way (since clearly talking to him hadn't done it).
The cooking dinner part, though, that was just silly. :)
On the whole I think I prefer the version given in this book. In it, Reed shows some humanity--he doesn't seem altogether sure of his decision, although now that he's made it he does seem likely to stick with it. But there's room for doubt here.
Flash 5
I enjoyed this issue more than I have any of the others. Possibly this book has found its stride! Possibly I'll rethink my decision to drop it, although I'm not holding my breath (I have more incentive to drop books than to keep them, honestly, given the cost of comics these days.) But hey, possible reprieve! And, bonus Jay Garrick sighting!
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